Madison’s World Music Festival – FREE

Head to the Memorial Union this week for tons of FREE events during Madison’s World Music Festival! Especially —

The Mystical Arts of Tibet – Sand Mandala

The Sand Mandala is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of mandalas made from colored sand. It’s an ancient art form to represent compassion, realize the impermanence of reality, and encourage a social/cosmic healing of the environment.

In general, all mandalas have outer layers, an inner story, and a secret meaning. The outer level represents the world in its divine form; the inner elements represent a map by which the ordinary human mind is transformed into the enlightened mind; on a secret level, mandalas predict the primordially perfect balance of subtle energies of the body and the clear light dimension of the mind. The creation of a sand painting is said to influence purification and healing on these three levels.

All of the Mandala events are free and take place at the Shannon Sunset Lounge, located at the University of Wisconsin’s Memorial Union

The Mystical Arts Of Tibet – Sand Mandala

Mandala opening ceremony. 9/13, Tuesday, 12pm – 1pm

Drawing of the lines 9/14, Wednesday, 9am – 6pm

Mandala Construction 9/15, Thursday, 9am – 6pm

Mandala Construction 9/16, Friday, 9am – 3pm

Mandala Construction 9/16, Friday, 3:30pm – 5pm

Closing Ceremony and Dispersal of the Sand

A sand mandala is ritualistically dismantled once it has been completed and its accompanying ceremonies symbolize the Buddhist belief in the transitory nature of material life.

Sand is collected in a jar which is wrapped in silk and transported to a river (or any place with moving water), where it is released back into nature.

We’ve lived in Madison for most of our lives. We love the events the University brings into town and know you will too. Let us know if you’re looking for a new home or want to sell your existing home in the Madison or Middleton Wisconsin area.